Nearly 30% to 40% of Advocates in Indian Courts Have Fake Degrees, Says BCI Chairperson

NEW DELHI, May 23: The Chairperson of the Bar Council of India (BCI), Senior Advocate Manan Kumar Mishra, has claimed that a significant number of advocates practising in Indian courts may be using fake academic credentials.

According to Mishra, around 35–40 per cent of individuals appearing in court wearing legal attire could be holding fabricated or unverified law degrees. He stated that many of these degrees are allegedly “manufactured or purchased,” allowing individuals to enter legal practice without proper qualification.

“The Bar Council of India is aware that around 35 to 40 percent of those seen in court complexes wearing black coats and bands are fake. Their degrees are absolutely fake; they manufactured them somewhere or bought them from somewhere, and on that basis, they are practising in courts,” Mishra was quoted as saying in remarks reported by news agency IANS.

He added that when the BCI initiated a verification drive for advocates’ credentials, nearly 40 per cent of lawyers did not complete the required documentation, raising suspicion about their authenticity. Mishra said he has already brought the matter to the attention of the Chief Justice of India.

The remarks came in the context of recent discussions surrounding a social media-driven movement dubbed the “Cockroach Janata Party,” which emerged after controversial comments made in judicial proceedings regarding young professionals entering the legal field with questionable qualifications.

Mishra also clarified that the Chief Justice’s earlier remarks on fake degrees were aimed at addressing concerns about individuals entering the profession with fraudulent credentials. The Chief Justice had reportedly suggested that agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) could be involved in verifying law degrees, while also expressing concern over misuse of the legal system by unqualified individuals.

The BCI has indicated that it is currently working on measures to strengthen verification processes and address the issue of unregistered or potentially fraudulent practitioners in the legal profession.